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SULPHUR SPRINGS—A small church in East Texas has made a big gift to the International Mission Board, even though doing so meant sacrificing funds that could have been used for a permanent building.
Two years ago, Journey Baptist Church sold its building, a facility that was poorly located, with little parking and no room for growth. A purchase of 10 acres as a future building site followed, but constructing a new structure proved cost prohibitive, so church leaders were content to meet in temporary facilities.
Upon hearing of the IMB’s 2015 decision to reduce the numbers of missionaries in the field, mission-minded Journey BC members set aside almost a month in earnest prayer, pastor Kyle Ray said.
“Our prayer focus was based on three truths or promises: 1) If we truly seek first God’s kingdom, not our own, then he will take care of all these other things. 2) Are we going to believe it is better to give than receive? 3) Will we love our neighbors more than ourselves?” Ray said.
“During our season of prayer, a local man desiring to build a Christian ministry around Sulphur Springs contacted us about our using that ministry’s building, [which is] expected to be completed within 18 months,” Ray said. Information about the man’s unsolicited offer was presented to the congregation at a meeting held in early October to determine the church’s response to the IMB funding issues.
Journey BC voted to give all of a special reserve fund, monies saved over and above operating funds, to the IMB—a sum of more than $29,000. Additionally, the church increased its Cooperative Program giving from 7 to 10 percent next year, with a commitment to increase it by one percent each year until they get to 15 percent.
While waiting on the new facility to became available, the church planned to continue meeting at a local hotel, but God provided a better option.
“That week we were contacted by the pastor of First Baptist Church of Sulphur Springs who asked us, out of the blue, if we would be interested in meeting on Sunday mornings in that church’s Recreation Outreach Center (ROC) facility,” Ray said, calling the ROC facility, “one of the nicest buildings in town.” The move to the FBC facility will save Journey BC a significant amount each month, and the building will be available for their use until they move to a permanent location.
“As we prayed about giving more to the IMB, the Lord has seemingly convinced our church family that we don’t need to spend $500,000 on a building when we can get along fine without one. He will take care of us and has proven to do so by providing two meeting locations (one temporary, one permanent) for way less than we are paying now and way less than a mortgage plus expenses would be to own a building,” Ray said. “It has been humbling to see God do so much.”
Journey BC became a Southern Baptists of Texas Convention church plant four years ago and called Ray to become its senior pastor in January 2012. From the beginning, the church has embraced international missions, particularly among unreached people groups.
“Within six months of beginning our work together, we went on our first international trip to East Asia to work with an unreached people group. We adopted that group and have since been back seven times, working with an IMB missionary there,” Ray said. From fewer than 20 believers, the area now has more than 200 believers and five churches.
A commitment to missions has led this small East Texas church of around 60 members to forego building a permanent facility and to give generously in order to sustain eternal work for the kingdom.
